WIMBORNE AC's Charlotte Ayton has been selected to be part of the athletics squad at the 2017 School Games national finals.
The games are an integrated multi-sport event for the UK’s most talented school-age athletes and take place at Loughborough University between August 31 and September 3.
Ayton, 16, who is a student at Queen Elizabeth’s School in Wimborne, will compete for the Midlands squad.
She already has an impressive record of success having finished sixth in the long jump at the English Schools’ Athletic Association this year. Her personal best is 5.59m.
Around 1,600 athletes will compete across 12 sports at the games, seven of which include disability disciplines.
The four-day event is supported by National Lottery funding from Sport England and delivered by the Youth Sport Trust.
Ayton, who lives in Ferndown, will be hoping to follow in the footsteps of some of Britain’s biggest sporting stars who have competed at the games before going on to senior international success.
Previous competitors include Paralympic champions Hannah Cockroft, Ellie Simmonds and Jonnie Peacock, Olympic champion Adam Peaty, heptathlete Katarina Johnson-Thompson and GB sprinter Adam Gemili.
At the event, Ayton will experience the excitement of competing at the highest level.
She will live in a dedicated athletes’ village on the Loughborough University campus, take part in an opening ceremony and perform in front of huge crowds.
“Jessica Ennis is my inspiration,” said Ayton. “She has given me the motivation to train hard and be the best that I can.
“The School Games national finals provide a great opportunity for talented young athletes like Charlotte,” said Ali Oliver, chief executive of the Youth Sport Trust.
“Competitors get a real taste of what it’s like to be part of a world-class sporting event at the amazing sporting venues of Loughborough University and the event is a great way to see our future sporting champions in action today.”
Tickets for the event are available at https://www.ticketsource.co.uk/2017schoolgames
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